Page 13 of The Don

When they see me coming, Eve whispers something to Chastity that makes her stifle a grin and it angers me, knowing I’m the butt of their joke.

“A word, Miss. Blake.” I growl when I approach and jerk my thumb toward two seats set on either side of a small table.

She nods and winks at Eve before swaying past me with that incredible body that is covered in the most flattering dress I have ever seen. Kissing her curves like an ardent lover, caressing and holding them gently in place. The split to the back sits just below her ass and the stockings and black stilettos makes the blood ignite in my veins.

“Two glasses of champagne please, Eve. Chilled.” I say pointedly, and she nods reverently before turning away.

As I join my new employee, I try desperately to control my emotion because she definitely doesn’t need to see how much she affects me.

Two dark brown eyes stare at me with curiosity as I drop into the seat before her and lean back, glancing out at the brilliant blue sky as we fly high above the clouds.

“Impressive view.” She says softly and I nod.

“It always is.”

I turn and note the smirk on her face as she whispers huskily, “I was talking about the one in front of me, not out of the window.”

“Are you always so forward, Miss. Blake? It’s not an attractive quality in a woman.” I say flippantly, causing her to raise her eyes.

“Flattery is a drug, Leo, and I’m guessing your over-inflated ego is used to that.”

She shifts forward, dragging my eyes to her perfect cleavage. “You must get your fair share of attention.”

“What of it?” I shrug. “I’m not interested in attention, only business.”

“Of course, business.”

She leans back and crosses her shapely legs, her dress rising up, dragging my attention to depravity.

“Then talk to me aboutourbusiness, Mr. Ortega, because if you want me to play the loving girlfriend you’ve got to meet me halfway.”

Eve arrives with the champagne and as we take a moment, I gather my wits around me. It’s obvious Chastity is challenging me, playing with me even and for a man who likes to win, I am already working out my strategy.

As I sip the champagne, I consider the woman in front of me as she gazes back with interest, not desire. If anything, she’s a secret waiting to be discovered because I recognize a lot of myself in her. Guarded, devious and closed to emotion and like me, she suffered a hard beginning. I also know how good she is at poker and will have done her research accordingly. She is playing a dangerous game, but they are the kind I like best, so I set my glass down on the table and lean forward, facing her with my darkest expression, noting how her breathing increases as her chest heaves, revealing in a heartbeat that she’s not as unaffected by me as she thinks she is.

“My stepmother considers she has the upper hand. She got inside our heads and thinks she’s still there and she’s right, to a degree.”

“You love her?” Chastity speaks with curiosity rather than jealously and it makes me smile. “Ineverloved her, Chastity. Do you really believe a man like me is capable of love?”

She shrugs. “Then welcome to the club.”

She raises her glass and takes a sip and I say with no emotion. “Just so you know, I don’t fall in love. I don’t care, and I don’t want to share my life. This is a job, nothing more, and whatever I do or say at our destination is all an act for the benefit of my stepmother. Do I make myself clear, Miss. Blake?”

“Crystal, Mr. Ortega.” She raises her glass and I nod.

“And Carlos Matasso?” She says suddenly and I note the edge to her voice that she is battling to soften.

“What about him?”

“What are your plans concerning him? Because I doubt you brought me along for the ride just to make your stepmother jealous.”

“You will kill him.” I state the real reason for her services and study her reaction carefully.

To her credit, she just nods with more interest than anything, revealing that she is a woman who can shut off emotion to get the job done.

“He killed your parents.” I lean back and say casually, noting the atmosphere change like lightning.

She stiffens and her eyes narrow and I watch a bead of perspiration collect on her brow as she says nonchalantly. “You have done your homework, Mr. Ortega.”

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